Vinegar-generator



s J. CLARK.l Vinegar Generator.

No. zssge. Patented Dem-28,1880.

lvl-.PETERSF FHDTOLITNOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D C

, Uil-viren Simfree SAMUEL J. CLARK, OF

ArtNr* ,prima DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

VlNEGAR-GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 235,996, dated December28, 1880,

Application filed January 13, 1879.

To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, SAMUEL J. CLARK, ofDetroit, in the county ot' Wayne and State ot' Michigan, have inventedan Improvement in Vinegar-Generators, of which the following is aspecification.

The nature of my invention relates to certain new and usefulimprovements'in the construction of that class of devices employed inconverting cider into vinegar after the vinous fermentation (by whichthe lees of the cider is thrown off) has taken place.

The invention consists in the details ot' construction and thecombination of said details, as more fully hereinafter described.

Figure l is a perspective of a section of my improved generator, all thesections of which are alike, and connected together in a similar manner.Fig. 2is a vertical longitudinal central section. I

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Arepresents a box, tight at each end, supported at the top of a suitableframe, one end of said box being slightly elevated and provided with anopening, a, on il s upper surface and near its highest point ofelevation. In the bottom ofthe box there are driven series of woodenpegs b, projecting upward butaportion of the depth of the box. At thelower end of the box there are perforations, into which are driven frombelow the hollow and perforated plugs c. These plugs are inclosed in abox, B, which forms a connection between the box A and a similar box,A', immediately below. This box Al is inclined in the opposite directionfrom the one above, and is constructed in precisely a similar manner,except that the opening a in its top is enlarged to the area of the boxB. The opposite end of this box A is provided with similar perforationsand similar perforated hollow plugs, the latter opening into a box, B',in the manner heretofore described. Thus I construct and build up, oneabove the other, as many of these boxes as I may desire, each incliningin the opposite direction from the one above, and connected together bythe boxes inclosin g the hollow plugs. The bottom box, A2, of the seriesis constructed like the others, except that it has a perforation, d, forthe discharge of thevinegar. The frame-work which sustains this seriesof inclined boxes incloses at each end a vertical air-chamber, C, closedat the top and open at the bottom. Perforations ein the inner walls ot'these chambers admit air into the boxes B B', and steam-pipes D passlaterally through the lower ends of these chambers, said pipescommunicating with any convenient steam-generator. Perforated diaphragmsf are inserted in the lower ends of these chambers, to prevent theingress of vinegar-dies or other insects.

In practice, these generators, when in use, should be set up in roomsthat can be conveniently kept at a proper temperature to facilitatefermentation. The cider to be used after the vinous fermentation hastaken place is allowed to run in a small stream through the opening c inthe upper box. In its passage down the incline the current is spreadinto a vthin lm by means of the obstructing-pins,

\ward, communicating heat to the ends of the generator-boxes.

The various boxes necessary to form a perfeet generator may beconstructed with doors, as shown in the drawings, or other appliances bymeans of which access can be had to the interior when desired, andwhich, when closed, will prevent the escape of the gases offermentation.

The end which I accomplish is a very rapid generation of vinegar fromcider, of uniform color and strength, by the flow of the cider in thinlms in inclosed boxes or generators under suitable conditions of heat.

I am aware that sloping troughs have heretofore been employed invinegar-generating apparatus; and I am also aware that an apparatus formaking vinegar consisting of a IOO box provided with a series ofparallel horizontal troughs provided with plates for retarding` thepassage of the liquid alongthem, the troughs communicating` with eachother by means ot' pipes at one end otl eaeh trough, each ot' the saidpipes being,` arranged on the side opposite to that on which the pipe onthe trough above is arranged, the box being provided With holes in itssides and top for the passage Ot' heated air introduced into the lowerpart of the box, has heretofore been eniployed, and l therefore lay noclaim to suoli construction, my invention being,` conlined to thedetails ot' construction set forth in the claim.

YV hat I claim as my invention is- The vinegar-generator described,consisting of the horizontal compartments A A A2, inclined in oppositedirections, and having pins b on their bottom boards, the verticalconnecting-chambers B B', having' perforated plugs o, the verticalcompartment G at the ends of the generator, the openings e, lending intothe chambers B B', and the steam-pipes D, all constructed and arrangedsubstantially as set forth and shown.

SAMUEL J. CLARK. Witnesses:

lil'. S. SPRAGUE, THEO. S. DAY.

